Bullying, difficulty with social relations, with finding jobs, or seeking promotions; Dr Beibly lists the problems that people who stutter can face.

"The impact goes far beyond just how the person sounds."

Stuttering is a fascinating area to work in, she says. "We can treat it very successfully but still don't know the root cause."

What is understood is that while stuttering can run in families, it isn't caused by psychological trauma or by poor parenting. The movie The King's speech expressed the state of knowledge of the time, says Dr Beilby.

It was an excellent film, she feels, in that it showed "the power of the therapeutic alliance".

Stuttering is a "physical overloading in their speech muscle system", explains Dr Beilby. Stutterers know what they want to say but experience a temporary loss of control.

Listen to the interview from WA Regional Drive as Dr Beilby talks about the condition.

You can also hear her discussing acceptance and commitment therapy, an approach which the clinic is pioneering in its application to speech therapy.

There are different kinds of problems, Dr Beilby explains. People may be encouraged to slow down, or to soften out troublesome sounds.

Problems are addressed in real life situations. "That's the new arm to the research."

The approach builds confidence, she says. The end result is that people are happier and are not having to chase "the holy grail of perfect speech".

People who would like to find out more about the approach, which is used with both children and adults, can contact the Stuttering Treatment Clinic, says Dr Beilby.